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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Low lying placenta... can it move further down?

23 replies

pinkspottywellies · 05/01/2009 20:48

I know it doesn't usually, it usually grows upwards with the uterus but at my 20 week scan the sonographer said the placenta was 16mm away from the cervix. She thought this would mean that I would be scanned again to check at 32 weeks but then came to see us in the waiting room and said it was far enough away not to recheck.

Is there absolutely no chance this measurement could cause a problem?

I'm concerned as my first labour was really quick and if I do start to bleed from a low placenta I wouldn't have very long!

I wonder if any midwives/sonographers can advise - I have a midwife appt next week and will ask but it's really playing on my mind.

TIA

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bronze · 05/01/2009 20:50

Mine did with dd. I was told it was very very rare(they hadn't seen it before). It was an odd pregnancy altogether though

JodieO · 05/01/2009 20:52

That sounds very close to me, I would ask for another scan later on just to be sure. My ex sil had a low lying placenta and it didn't move. She had a couple of bleeding episodes because of it and had to have a c-section. I dread to think what could happen if you went if for labour with a placenta too close to the cervix.

georgimama · 05/01/2009 20:55

In your shoes I would insist on a second scan. It's too big a deal to take a risk on and I'm very surprised at the sonographer.

My placenta was low lying at 20 weeks (it's quite common, I don't recall the measurements) but at the hospital I gave birth at, if it was lower than half way down at 20 weeks, you came back at 30 for another scan (so an elective c section can be planned).

georgimama · 05/01/2009 20:57

To be frank JodieO, you'd almost certainly die, and so would the baby.

But OP there is absolutely no need for you to be alarmed, it has almost certainly moved.

If your GP won't refer you could you pay for a scan? BUPA charge about a hundred quid.

brettgirl2 · 05/01/2009 20:59

I can't believe that - not exactly comforting!

georgimama · 05/01/2009 21:01

Well it may not be comforting but it is largely true - if the placenta was over the cervix and then labour started it would be horrendous. As I said, the OP needs to get a second scan.

Original poster

pinkspottywellies · 05/01/2009 21:01

Crikey - it was certainly lower than half way then! I will speak to the midwife next Tuesday and ask for another scan.

Does anyone else know of measurement criteria in different areas?

OP posts:

georgimama · 05/01/2009 21:03

this is quite helpful, or google placenta parvea

Original poster

pinkspottywellies · 05/01/2009 21:04

I knew that if it is covering the cervix then there is a risk of huge blood loss which I found particularly worrying because of the speed of my first labour. I don't suppose it's moved down enough to cover but it's also not good if it's close.

OP posts:

JodieO · 05/01/2009 21:04

I agree with Georgimama, it's not worth taking the rist, what she says is true.

For what it's worth 16mm is just over half an inch so that's very close.

That line is my guesstimate of 16mm

JodieO · 05/01/2009 21:06

If it didn't move I think some women are admitted to hospital in the later stages of pregnancy (depending on case) just to be safe if they had a bleed etc as it can happen very quickly. Also as you had a fast first birth I would imagine they would be more cautious.

Original poster

pinkspottywellies · 05/01/2009 21:10

I'd already googled (usually wrong thing to do I know! ) and got the general info but thought I might get more experiences/info on specific distances from you wise lot!

OP posts:

whitenoise · 05/01/2009 21:18

hospitals have a different policy about how close is too close at 20 weeks. my hosp had 1.5 - 2 cms as a guide. Placentas tend to move upwards as your uterus grows so its likely that by 40 weeks the distance will be a lot lot bigger.

I had placenta praevia with ds3 which completely covered the opening of the cervix (os), i asked a lot of questions and had most answered very well. In the end i had a miracle placenta that decided to shift which they had never seen before in Grade 4 PP.

It is worth asking for another scan to put your mind at ease but low lying placenta is less of a risk than placenta praevia.

I don't think there was any need to cause the OP to panic GM, high BP isn't good regardless fo where your placenta is

Original poster

pinkspottywellies · 05/01/2009 21:25

She didn't make me panic - I already knew the worst case scenario but agree that it was quite bluntly put and could make someone really worry.

OP posts:

Original poster

pinkspottywellies · 05/01/2009 21:27

Thanks for all your comments by the way. Whitenoise I like your miracle placenta!

OP posts:

whitenoise · 05/01/2009 21:28

so did i

georgimama · 05/01/2009 21:30

Fine whitenoise, let's not post facts because they might scare people. Obviously it's much better that someone (not just OP) stumbling across this thread isn't scared or has raised bloodpressure (WTF?) than that they are aware of a potentially life threatening condition.

Whatever. Teach me to try to be helpful.

nobodysfool · 05/01/2009 21:47

My ds was born via emergency c section on the 29th of Dec.
I had a low lying placenta-grade four to begin with then it moved slightly.
I had many hemmorages (sp?) and spent a lot of time backwards and forwards to the hospital.It is a truely worrying time and full of uncertainty but thankfully the baby was never effected by the massive bleeds.
I had LOTS of scans and at the last one the placenta wasnt mentioned but i asked the consultant if it was still low lying and she said if nothing had been noted on my scan then it must have moved.I explained that the sonographer was having problems measuring ds head and i dont think the position of placenta was checked.
well to cut a long story short i had a bleed and ended staying in hospital then the following night whilst still in hospital i went into labour.Full on-contractions every 4 mins-i was then told as i had had a low lying placenta and there was a question mark over the fact if it was still low could i wait till the specialist day surgery team came in?Otherwise i would have the night staff doing the section and they would be much happier if i could 'wait' till morning-so i had a 12 hour fruitless labour knowing that i was going to have a section.
Ds was born at 9.50 in the morning by section-though he was put in special care due to grunting,low blood sugar levels and low body temp he was out in 48 hours and we are now home.Can't believe it is already 1 week since all this happened.So labour and a low lying placenta doesn't mean death as other posters may have suggested.
I really hope everything goes well for you and baby.

whitenoise · 05/01/2009 21:48

i didn't say don't post facts, there are ways of saying things and your posts were quite hysterical imo

georgimama · 05/01/2009 21:51

There's a difference between low lying placenta and placenta pravia, nobody. Glad things turned out so well for you.

What is hysterical about being factual? Do you think people shouldn't be told that placenta pravia is a potentially life threatening condition because it might scare them? Why is this a good idea?

nobodysfool · 05/01/2009 21:54

I had total previa- grade 4.

whitenoise · 05/01/2009 21:55

OP hasn't been diagnosed with placenta praevia though, she has a low lying placenta which, as you just pointed out to nobodysfool, is different.

JodieO · 05/01/2009 22:01

Nobody, congratulations on the birth of your ds I'm really glad things worked out for you, sounds scary having to wait 12 hours though for the morning staff .

I think it's good to know all the posibilities though and just because you were lucky enough to be ok, doesn't mean everyone would be. I've had difficult pregnancies myself, PE resulting in prem baby, early contractions and also waters breaking at 22 weeks but I've been lucky and I'm so greatful whilst also realising that lots of others aren't.

I wanted to know everything as soon as I had problems and made sure I did so that I was prepared and also that took away some of the fear.

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